Customer Reviews

Sacred Treasures IV: Choral Masterworks, Quiet Prayers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is another fine offering in the "Sacred Treasures" series. Unlike many other compilations, the represented ensembles are some of the best in the world and each piece has been chosen with deliberation and care. This particular volume highlights the continuity of the sacred music tradition, reaching back to high craft of Renaissance Polyphony (Tom?s Luis de Victoria) to today's more contemporary composers such as P?rt and Lauridsen. From pieces as seemingly disparate as Kedrov's Russian Orthodox "Otche Nash" and Lauridsen's "Contre qui, Rose" the listener obtains the same sense of a very personal piety.

Although the CD implies choral masterworks, there are also two stunning instrumental offerings ("prayers without words") and not all of these "quiet prayers" are even sacred, as with the Lauridsen "Contre qui, Rose." Most of the pieces rely on subtlety of harmonic texture, as with the P?rt "O Weisheit" which rests upon a simple harmonic idea that travels through the ebb and flow of faithful prayer. Lauridsen's "Contre qui, Rose," features a beautiful Rilke text that is sacred in its own way and the composer carries his listeners through rich swells of choral texture, lifting them through waves of gentle dissonances, and setting them gently on the shores of cadence and consonance.

The Faur? "Benedictus" from the Messe Basse is a real treasure not only in that it is less-known than the famous Requiem, but this particular performance by the Cambridge Singers under the direction of John Rutter most aptly conveys the beauty and simplicity of Faur?'s sacred music.

The compilation features "classics" such as the "In Paradisum" from both the Durufl? and Faur? Requiems, as well as less common performances such as the "Otche Nash" performed by the distinctive Bulgarian women's choir, KITKA. Lauridsen's "O Nata Lux" and "O Magnum Mysterium" both communicate the sense of illuminating hope that is carried through each of the pieces on the CD.

The "quiet prayers" offered on this album are some of the richest and most beautiful representations of the sacred in music. It is refreshing to see such high quality ensembles and performers represented on a compilation CD, as well as such a varied sampling of repertoire. Far from being mere ear-candy, the pieces on the CD testify to music's ability to be the ultimate expression of faith.

I am the producer of this CD as well as "SACRED TREASURES:Choral Masterworks From Russia", "SACRED TREASURES III:Choral Masterworks From Russia and Beyond", "SACRED TREASURES V: From a Russian Cathedral" and "CELTIC TWILIGHT 7: Sacred Spirit", "MUSIC OF GRACE: Amazing Grace" and "SACRED SONGS OF MARY". In each case, my intention was to bring together the very best performances of exceptionally beautiful, slow and peaceful sacred music. My other SACRED TREASURES compilations focus mainly on choral music from the Russian Orthodox tradition, while this compilation consists mainly of 20th century masterpieces from the Western tradition. However, it also includes two Orthodox pieces and one exquisite Renaissance piece. All the selections are deeply nourishing to the soul.

Different types of music serve different needs, and in today's stressful and fast-paced world, one of the most important and often neglected needs is for time out from that world--to "lay aside all earthly cares" (as the "Cherubic Hymn" on this CD prescribes) and to rest in a magical space of slow, peaceful, beauty. That peaceful beauty is available to you on all of these compilations, including this album, "SACRED TREASURES IV: Quiet Prayers"...

Sacred Treasures IV is a beautiful tapestry of tonal prayers and a wonderful tool for quiet reflection. Each piece has been carefully selected for its text, musical texture, instrumentation and performance.The collection has much variety in these respects, incorporating a distinctly different setting of Our Father in a folk setting for women's voices, a secular setting from Morten Lauridsen's Poem Cycle: Le Chanson des Roses, as well as two instrumental pieces by Arvo Part. Still, a continuity of atmosphere and purpose gives the listener a sense of inner peace.

O Weisheit from Arvo Part's Seven Magnificat Antiphons, Jesu, Dulcis Memoria by Tomas Luis de Victoria, In Paradisum from Maurice Durufle's Requiem, O Nata Lux from Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna and Arvo Part's Spiegel im Spiegel are all highlights of the CD. These tracks, many of which are extracted from a larger work, combine to quiet the spirit and nurture the soul.

As with the others in the series, this CD is beautifully engineered and packaged to create another musical treasure for discerning listeners.

Religious choral music is not for everyone, but this series is just brilliant. Every CD is a showcase of rich, diverse, excellent sound.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the CD's in this series so far...(I haven't yet gotten #5.) My favorite is #2, and this one, #4, is my next favorite! The music is moving and wonderfully arranged, great for relaxing and quiet contemplation!

With their rich Russian orthodox chant, my other CD's of Sacred Treasures have been great background for my painting ikons. This is a welcome change with its more modern and western music and its lovely harmonies of female voices. It too is inspired by prayer, and inspires prayer, but unlike the others, it shifts from the purely liturgical community celebration to private meditation which inspires slow, contemplative breathing into peace. It moves one to active and attentive listening.

At weekday Masses I usually play a meditative piece after Communion to accompany private prayer. This collection draws people into prayer like few others I have heard.

This CD was disappointing. Number I in this series is my favorite. I wouldn't have bought this one if I could have sampled the selections before purchase.